Daddy’s Secret Baby
Page 20
I heard the door open and close and assumed Mrs. Welsh was back from her wine hunt. The heavy footsteps told me otherwise. It was Mr. Welsh, which meant he would be ready for dinner. He liked to eat around the same time every night. Sometimes Ellie and I joined the family, but generally, dinner was my time with Ellie alone. We usually did puzzles, played one of her video games, or read. People often asked if I missed having a life, but in my opinion, I had a better life than most. I loved my little girl.
“All right, guys, head outside to play. You’ve got fifteen minutes, and then it will be time to wash up,” I told them.
“We get lasagna!” Ellie cheered, clapping her hands before racing out the French doors that opened into a backyard that was essentially a private playground for the kids with damn near every toy imaginable.
Mr. Welsh walked into the kitchen; his nose turned up as he smelled the air. “Is that lasagna?” he asked.
I smiled. “It is.”
“Thank you. I think we’ll have to give you a raise. You know you’re not expected to cook and clean,” he said with a friendly smile.
“I don’t mind. I like cooking, especially in this kitchen,” I told him.
“Is my wife in?” he asked.
“No, she ran to the store in search of wine to go with dinner.”
He nodded. “I have a guest coming for dinner tonight. I assume there is plenty?”
I softly laughed. “You know there always is. I make enough for a small army.”
“Great. I have a conference call. I’ll be in my study,” he said and walked out of the kitchen.
I figured I had better get the table set, knowing Mr. Welsh was likely entertaining a potential investor. I wanted him to succeed. I liked my job and I liked the family and didn’t want his business to fail and them to leave town. I grabbed the dishes and carried them into the dining room, setting it in a semi-formal style. As I walked past the windows facing the backyard, I checked on the kids before grabbing another load of dishes and the necessary condiments and carrying them back into the dining room.
I heard the doorbell ring just as I was pulling out the lasagna from the oven. I quickly put it on the stove, deposited the oven mitts on the counter, and headed for the foyer. Mrs. Welsh wasn’t home, and Mr. Welsh was on the phone. That left me to act as head of the house or butler, one of the many hats I wore.
I opened the door, prepared to greet the dinner guest, and froze. My eyes had to be playing tricks on me. There was no way Jacob Miner was standing on the other side of the door. I blinked, wondering why I had conjured him up after all these years.
He was looking at me with complete shock. I imagined I probably had a similar expression. “Jacob?” I breathed the word, the sound barely audible.
I couldn’t believe he was standing there. He was three feet in front of me looking handsome as ever. No, more handsome. He was a man now. He had those same hazel eyes that could flash blue to green with his mood. There were a few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but they were so much the same. His light brown hair was cut short, much shorter than it had been in the days we’d been together. There was the slightest hint of stubble on the stern jawline, giving him a rugged yet sexy look that was making my belly feel very warm.
He was staring at me, and the surprise at seeing me was evident on his face. I had a flashback to the last time I’d seen him. Neither of us had known I was pregnant at the time. One day, he was gone without a word. When I had found out I was pregnant, I had no idea where to even look for him. His cell phone had been shut off, and no one around town knew where he’d disappeared to. It didn’t take me long to figure out I was going to be a single mom. At that point, I decided to keep the identify of my baby’s daddy a secret.
“Erin Maxwell.” He said my full name as if he wasn’t sure it was really me.
His voice rolled over me, sparking more memories. I remembered what it felt like to be in his strong arms, his body over mine. I remembered everything. The way he had tasted, the softness of his lips and the hardness of his body. Staring at him now, I suspected he was far more solid than he had been in his youth. It sent me down a dangerous path as I remembered our last time together. We’d snuck out and lain together under the stars.
I heard a squeal come from the backyard. My initial reaction was it was just the kids having fun. A split second later I went into full panic as I stared at the man who’d fathered my child and had no idea. My eyes widened and my heartbeat picked up. I debated slamming the door in his face but remembered he was Mr. Welsh’s guest.
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A Note from the Author
Thank for you taking the time to read my latest release.
I hope you loved reading my story, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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- Natasha L. Black
About the Author
Alpha Male Collection:
Forbidden Daddy| Redemption| Protecting Her
Saving Sky| Protecting Sasha
Complete box set here: Men in Charge
* * *
Reverse Harem/Ménage Collection:
Double Dirty| The Cabin| Double Trouble
Training the Rookie| Cuffed to my Roomies
Complete box set here: One Lucky Girl
* * *
Fake Marriage Collection:
Pretend You’re Mine| Pretend I’m Yours| Let’s Pretend
Faking It
Complete box set here: Playing Pretend
* * *
Secret Baby & More:
My Ex’s Secret Baby| Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Brother’s Best Friend| Forbidden Protector| Sweet Tooth| Forbidden Protector
* * *
Want to contact me? Please e-mail me at: contact@natashablackpublishing.com
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